The overwhelming majority of Expadorians we've met love living here. However, almost everyone can relate an experience or two that would probably plant seeds of doubt in the average newcomer.
Here's a recent example from the Yazells:
We had been making steady progress in our new house despite being without 90 % of our furnishings (our container won't be here until May!)
Our bed is set up and we have appliances to cook on. Meals were being taken in the stairwell, on the front stoop or utilizing an inverted appliance box as a table. Phase I of our alarm system had been installed after two days of work but was causing some flickering in our lights.
The alarm company was due back on a Thursday for two more days of work installing our electric security fence on top of our wall. It turned out that our deed was finally recorded and we had a bilingual facilitator available, so we also needed to transfer our utilities on that same day. Roger told Mark, our aide de camp in that project, to come to the house at ten so he could be there when the alarm guys arrived. He would then undertake the gauntlet of standing in the various lines for the utilities while Suzanne stayed at the house with the alarm installation crew.
Mark called at 10:20.....his car broke down, but not to worry. He had it towed and he was in a cab on his way. We told him the alarm guys were late anyway. When Mark arrived, they still weren't here so we gave Mark the number of our non-English speaking service rep at the empressa de alarmas. It seemed some of the material wasn't ready yet so no hombres de alarma today....look for them manana....flickering lights?... No problema...that's normal!!
O.K. Nothing to be done about the alarm issues today....Suzanne decides to join Roger and Mark in the cab and we're off to insure we maintain water and power at Casa Yazell. At ETAPA, the lady informs us one page of papers is missing something...so we detour to the attorney's office, then back to ETAPA, Mark goes in one line to get the lady's dominus wobis cum on our corrections and we go in another with a copy of the last bill to get the account current before it's transferred to our name.
We're making progress!
Off to get a number that will be called by an account rep who can transfer our account to our name. OOOPS, Roger's cell phone is ringing.....this results in Roger being ejected from the office. When he returns, he informs Mark the number showed it was our Ecuadorian friend Mario and he'll return the call when we get the task at hand done. A short time later, receipts and transfer papers in hand, we head outside to return Mario's call.
Mario got a call from our architect Marcello asking him to call us because the alarm company had called him. They had a crew at Casa Yazell wanting to start our fence installation and wondered why we weren't there...could we get there immediately???
We recruited Mario to call all concerned and explain the events of earlier today. We hadn't returned the calls promptly because our phones had to be shut off while we were in line.
No, we can't be there soon....so how about manana???
After these events, the electric company was rather uneventful (except for the guy who erroneously told Roger that the electricity was in danger of being shut off the next day because of several months non-payment...we think he put in a wrong meter number or something). Our task there mostly just took time and eventually our transfer was made.
Thank goodness all we had to do the next day was to wait for the alarm company. Well, we did lots of that...we waited...we waited...and then we waited some more. At 3:30 we called and got answering machine messages in rapid fire Espanol with some sort of instructions that Roger couldn't interpret. Another call to friend Mario for help. He called later to explain he finally got a secretary who promised to get ahold of our rep and have him call Mario back. (In case you lost track of time here, this is Friday afternoon)
Time to make a long story shorter here. (presuming that's possible). Mario got his return call the following Thursday morning at 8:00am. The message was that the crew would at Casa Yazell by 10:00. By 11:15, the crew actually arrived and began to unload wiring, piping, insulators hardware, tools, ladders, power saws and all the implements of installation (and/or destruction) needed to begin our project. A few things were missing so one of the guys headed back with the truck driver to retrieve those items. They must of had a good twenty minutes of work accomplished when it was time to break for almuerzo!
Promptly at 1:00, both crew members were back at it...one running the metal saw and one running the arc welder. By 1:10 it was sprinkling...by 1:30 it was raining buckets! We had fun watching the sparks fly as the guys attempted to run a power saw and an arc welder in the rain but finally suggested they and their equipment might be safer on some cardboard we had spread out on our empty living room floor.
There were at least three more attempts at installation work as the rain clouds broke and returned multiple times. By four, everything was piled up the in the front room and the hombres de alarma were headed back on the company truck after a promise to return manana.
We have high hopes. After all, we're holding their arc welder hostage in our living room!
As we said, nearly everyone has a similar story....as unbelievable as they sound, they are all probably true....you can't really make these things up!
They are not, however, as horrible as they sound and if you love Ecuador as we do, they become part of the fabric of legends you'll weave to entertain and awe your friends who come to visit.
We are blessed to be here as we continue our life's journey, "juntos en el camino de la vida!"
Friday, March 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Wine Guy looks for chardonnay in Cuenca.
Chardonnay is the number one white wine and the number three best selling varietal in the U.S. However, here in Ecuador, you won't find dozens of Chardonnays to choose from. In fact, in some stores, you may have to head to the sparkling wine section to even find Chardonnay represented.
As a result, if you have a superbly strong yen for a Sonoma Cutrer, Cakebread Cellars, Merryvale or even a Chateau St Jean, you may have to consider booking an airline ticket to satisfy your craving or beg a friend to come for a visit bearing a bottle or two.
Even with the popularity and preponderance of Chilean and Argentinean wines available, I haven't yet discovered one of the truly nice South American Chardonnays I've enjoyed in the past: Santa Ema from Chile. (I mention it here so my Ecuadorian friends can keep an eye out for it..let me know if you see it!).
Californian Chardonnays are almost non-existent and the mere mention of Montrachet or even Pouilly-Fuisse will result in some wildly incredulous stares from an Ecuadorian wine merchant. If you manage to find even one of the more common Californian table Chardonnays, be prepared for $30 plus pricing.
So what's the retired Expadorian on a fixed income to do when he absolutely needs a Chardonnay fix? Here's a couple options in the $10 to $15 price range:
Santa Julia Chardonnay: this organic Argentinian producer (from Mendoza) produces a light, crisp, naked chardonnay with a hint of mango and an almost barely detectable note of banana on the nose. It reminds me of some unoaked French chardonnays minus the minerality. Look for this wine in Supermaxi or one of the chain stores.
Casa Vieja Chardonnay Reserva: This Chilean producer ages his chardonnay in oak so this is the one you want if you prefer oaky chardonnays. The oak here, however, is definately young, so be prepared for a light touch of greenness when you first uncork this otherwise nice little wine. A lot of white wine drinkers wouldn't think of decanting. In this case, however, some aeration will smooth out the rough edges from the young oak used to age this wine. That should give you a chardonnay with some of the stone fruit body, character and even a slight bit of the creaminess that you might enjoy from a barrel-aged chardonnay. You should find this wine in Coral or Superstock.
Here's hoping that these hints help in your Ecuadorian wine search. Remember, for other wine stories from The Wine Guy, visit www.rogersgrapevine.blogspot.com.
When wine shopping in Ecuador, remember to avoid those shops that display their wine in the front window. Happy sipping to you here in the land south of zero!
As a result, if you have a superbly strong yen for a Sonoma Cutrer, Cakebread Cellars, Merryvale or even a Chateau St Jean, you may have to consider booking an airline ticket to satisfy your craving or beg a friend to come for a visit bearing a bottle or two.
Even with the popularity and preponderance of Chilean and Argentinean wines available, I haven't yet discovered one of the truly nice South American Chardonnays I've enjoyed in the past: Santa Ema from Chile. (I mention it here so my Ecuadorian friends can keep an eye out for it..let me know if you see it!).
Californian Chardonnays are almost non-existent and the mere mention of Montrachet or even Pouilly-Fuisse will result in some wildly incredulous stares from an Ecuadorian wine merchant. If you manage to find even one of the more common Californian table Chardonnays, be prepared for $30 plus pricing.
So what's the retired Expadorian on a fixed income to do when he absolutely needs a Chardonnay fix? Here's a couple options in the $10 to $15 price range:
Santa Julia Chardonnay: this organic Argentinian producer (from Mendoza) produces a light, crisp, naked chardonnay with a hint of mango and an almost barely detectable note of banana on the nose. It reminds me of some unoaked French chardonnays minus the minerality. Look for this wine in Supermaxi or one of the chain stores.
Casa Vieja Chardonnay Reserva: This Chilean producer ages his chardonnay in oak so this is the one you want if you prefer oaky chardonnays. The oak here, however, is definately young, so be prepared for a light touch of greenness when you first uncork this otherwise nice little wine. A lot of white wine drinkers wouldn't think of decanting. In this case, however, some aeration will smooth out the rough edges from the young oak used to age this wine. That should give you a chardonnay with some of the stone fruit body, character and even a slight bit of the creaminess that you might enjoy from a barrel-aged chardonnay. You should find this wine in Coral or Superstock.
Here's hoping that these hints help in your Ecuadorian wine search. Remember, for other wine stories from The Wine Guy, visit www.rogersgrapevine.blogspot.com.
When wine shopping in Ecuador, remember to avoid those shops that display their wine in the front window. Happy sipping to you here in the land south of zero!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Going To The Bank!
Ecuador is pretty much a cash society, most people expect payment in cash and most people seem to prefer to deal that way. It's not to say your credit card can't be used here...it can but not in a lot of places and it will probably mean you will be either charged more or not entitled to the "descuento" typically given to cash customers. Paying by check is also somewhat cumbersome and certainly time consuming (You definitely don't want to be next in line at the Supermaxi checkout with only a few items that are already unloaded on the conveyor belt and suddenly discover that the person ahead of you is paying with a check!).
Even though the overwhelming majority of everyday transactions are cash, nearly everyone has a bank account and nearly everyone spends a part of their week standing in line waiting for a bank teller. Opting to use an ATM simply means you will stand in line outside rather than in.
For our previous visit and for the overwhelming majority of the time since our return, we have relied on ATM cash withdrawals from our credit union account in the US for all our monetary needs. The few exceptions have been payment of some fees to our attorneys by check and handling payment of our real estate closing by wire transfer through our attorneys escrow account in a Panamanian bank.
Since buying a house and having to make a lot of purchases in, we decided we needed an Ecuadorian bank account. Armed with a bilingual facilitator we headed off on a mission to do just that. Thank goodness, we brought help, otherwise, we still might be stuck inside the bank in limbo never to return to the light of day. (remember the old Kingston Trio song about Charlie getting stuck on the MTA...something like that). We won't go into laborious details but despite having an Ecuadorian helper it took over three hours to open our account (it only took an hour and a half for our real estate closing!). We weren't eligible for a checking account so we opened a savings account with an ATM access. Oh, did I mention that we would have to wait three business days before we got our card. We were also instructed very specifically that I would have to be present and sign a permission form in order for Suzanne to get her card (despite the fact that it was a joint account). This additional trip was not included in the previously mentioned three-plus hours. We opened the account with $200 in cash and then gave the bank a check for what we thought we would need for the balance of upcoming house purchases. We already knew that clearing a check internationally would take about three weeks.
A few days later, new account cards in hand (another long wait in line and a few sworn affidavits later) we exited our new bank, congratulating ourselves on another job well done.
Ooopsie! Not so fast. After two weeks, we noticed no check had hit our credit union account (we can access that account readily online and knew the check should have been there in 10-12 days. A Skype call to our service center revealed that the check wasn't even enroute through the clearing system. Back to someone bilingual to call our Ecuadorian bank's service center who informed us that the check was bad and had bounced back. Say what??? A visit to the manager who had assisted in opening the account revealed that the check hadn't bounced. In fact, it had never reached the U.S. clearing center (we already knew that). The check had a bad date (2011 instead of 2012) and a branch of our Ecuadorian bank had sent the check back to our branch three days after it was written. Our branch then proceeded to charge us a service fee for writing a bad check! They claimed the service center had tried to call us but the phone number we had given them was invalid. It turned out they did have a valid number but service center personnel's phones are not permitted to call cell phones, only established land lines. Thus our first indication of any account problem was as a result of talking to our credit union in the US.
It took a couple visits and the help of another facilitator but we eventually (it was not the amount but the principle) got our bad check fee reversed.
However, we were now in need of some some heavy duty ATM withdrawals to meet our cash committments to all the various vendors supplying goods and services for our new home.
Enter boo-boo number two: We figured it would take a little over a week of maximum daily ATM withdrawals to meet our commitments. So we did something we normally avoided doing, withdrawing from an ATM on Sunday when the bank was closed. Of course, something bad happened...no receipt, no money but our account back in the US was debited (we discovered that by visiting another ATM which promptly informed us that no funds were available (we were maxed out!). That resulted in (you guessed it) more bank visitation time on Monday, more facilitation, etc, etc, etc. As of this posting, we have a provisional credit that I think will stick (note crossed fingers here!).
Two days later, while showing the ropes to some new arrivals, we did our daily stop at an ATM. Once again, we did something we normally try to avoid. We used an ATM that physically takes your card inside the machine as oppossed to one that slides it into a reader and allows you to keep a grip on the card. We DID get our money and receipt. But...UH OH... NO card was returned at the end of the transaction! Well,at least the bank was open. You guessed it...more quality time in line and more facilitating. This time we had to forgo a copy of my passport and wait in a holding area while a technician delved into the bowels of the mechanical monster outside. After a few anxious eternities, a teller emerged waving our retrieved card. A few affidavit signings later, (I think I promised to be a more cooperative customer in at least one of those!), we exited the bank, cash in hand and happy to be back on our way again: "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Even though the overwhelming majority of everyday transactions are cash, nearly everyone has a bank account and nearly everyone spends a part of their week standing in line waiting for a bank teller. Opting to use an ATM simply means you will stand in line outside rather than in.
For our previous visit and for the overwhelming majority of the time since our return, we have relied on ATM cash withdrawals from our credit union account in the US for all our monetary needs. The few exceptions have been payment of some fees to our attorneys by check and handling payment of our real estate closing by wire transfer through our attorneys escrow account in a Panamanian bank.
Since buying a house and having to make a lot of purchases in, we decided we needed an Ecuadorian bank account. Armed with a bilingual facilitator we headed off on a mission to do just that. Thank goodness, we brought help, otherwise, we still might be stuck inside the bank in limbo never to return to the light of day. (remember the old Kingston Trio song about Charlie getting stuck on the MTA...something like that). We won't go into laborious details but despite having an Ecuadorian helper it took over three hours to open our account (it only took an hour and a half for our real estate closing!). We weren't eligible for a checking account so we opened a savings account with an ATM access. Oh, did I mention that we would have to wait three business days before we got our card. We were also instructed very specifically that I would have to be present and sign a permission form in order for Suzanne to get her card (despite the fact that it was a joint account). This additional trip was not included in the previously mentioned three-plus hours. We opened the account with $200 in cash and then gave the bank a check for what we thought we would need for the balance of upcoming house purchases. We already knew that clearing a check internationally would take about three weeks.
A few days later, new account cards in hand (another long wait in line and a few sworn affidavits later) we exited our new bank, congratulating ourselves on another job well done.
Ooopsie! Not so fast. After two weeks, we noticed no check had hit our credit union account (we can access that account readily online and knew the check should have been there in 10-12 days. A Skype call to our service center revealed that the check wasn't even enroute through the clearing system. Back to someone bilingual to call our Ecuadorian bank's service center who informed us that the check was bad and had bounced back. Say what??? A visit to the manager who had assisted in opening the account revealed that the check hadn't bounced. In fact, it had never reached the U.S. clearing center (we already knew that). The check had a bad date (2011 instead of 2012) and a branch of our Ecuadorian bank had sent the check back to our branch three days after it was written. Our branch then proceeded to charge us a service fee for writing a bad check! They claimed the service center had tried to call us but the phone number we had given them was invalid. It turned out they did have a valid number but service center personnel's phones are not permitted to call cell phones, only established land lines. Thus our first indication of any account problem was as a result of talking to our credit union in the US.
It took a couple visits and the help of another facilitator but we eventually (it was not the amount but the principle) got our bad check fee reversed.
However, we were now in need of some some heavy duty ATM withdrawals to meet our cash committments to all the various vendors supplying goods and services for our new home.
Enter boo-boo number two: We figured it would take a little over a week of maximum daily ATM withdrawals to meet our commitments. So we did something we normally avoided doing, withdrawing from an ATM on Sunday when the bank was closed. Of course, something bad happened...no receipt, no money but our account back in the US was debited (we discovered that by visiting another ATM which promptly informed us that no funds were available (we were maxed out!). That resulted in (you guessed it) more bank visitation time on Monday, more facilitation, etc, etc, etc. As of this posting, we have a provisional credit that I think will stick (note crossed fingers here!).
Two days later, while showing the ropes to some new arrivals, we did our daily stop at an ATM. Once again, we did something we normally try to avoid. We used an ATM that physically takes your card inside the machine as oppossed to one that slides it into a reader and allows you to keep a grip on the card. We DID get our money and receipt. But...UH OH... NO card was returned at the end of the transaction! Well,at least the bank was open. You guessed it...more quality time in line and more facilitating. This time we had to forgo a copy of my passport and wait in a holding area while a technician delved into the bowels of the mechanical monster outside. After a few anxious eternities, a teller emerged waving our retrieved card. A few affidavit signings later, (I think I promised to be a more cooperative customer in at least one of those!), we exited the bank, cash in hand and happy to be back on our way again: "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Friday, March 2, 2012
A Wine Guy Wine Pick From Ecuador
A lot of our new friends in Ecuador, both Expadorian and Ecuadorian, have discovered that one of the Yazells has a background in the wine industry.
As a result, it seems as though we are very frequently asked for reccommendations on how to buy a good affordable wine in Ecuador. It IS somewhat of a challenge here. The government imposes a 29% duty on imported alcoholic beverages and the number of domestic Ecuadorian wine producers are few. Ecuadorians, as a whole prefer beer or distilled alcoholic beverages so what few wines are produced here are limited in scope. I have written in the past about one Ecuadorian producer on my wine blog: Roger's Grapevine (www.rogersgrapevine.blogspot.com) and will featuring some more there in the future.
As a service to our new found friends and community, I thought I would regularly post here on this blog, a short wine review of a single value priced wine available at retail here in Ecuador. I hope our readers will find this information useful and helpful. I'll try to keep the wine postings here brief and to the point. Fuller, more in depth stories on my Ecuadorian wine experiences and wine in general will continue to appear on Roger's Grapevine.
O.K. Here goes with The Ecuadorian Wine guy's first value pick:
Vine de table de France is the lowest wine classification in France. However you wouldn't guess that just by the taste of B&G's non-vintage "Partager Vin de France". It is not a knock your socks off wine. It is a fairly well balanced and smooth red blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. It does benefit from a little airing out as the nose is a litte sharp straight out of the bottle. It has nice red and black fruit flavors, some tannins that are mostly soft and smooth and just a hint of a finish. This red blend shows just enough of the Syrah that to have a little Character that might be accented with some grilled meat dishes. It's price tag is right at $10 which is slightly higher than what this wine would typically sell for in the US but a very reasonable price for any French wine here in Ecuador. The bottle I sampled was found on the wine shelves at Coral Centro. If you enjoy a lighter, smoother red blend that hints of Pinot Noir with a little more structure, this might be worth a try.
Happy wine shopping and enjoy!
As a result, it seems as though we are very frequently asked for reccommendations on how to buy a good affordable wine in Ecuador. It IS somewhat of a challenge here. The government imposes a 29% duty on imported alcoholic beverages and the number of domestic Ecuadorian wine producers are few. Ecuadorians, as a whole prefer beer or distilled alcoholic beverages so what few wines are produced here are limited in scope. I have written in the past about one Ecuadorian producer on my wine blog: Roger's Grapevine (www.rogersgrapevine.blogspot.com) and will featuring some more there in the future.
As a service to our new found friends and community, I thought I would regularly post here on this blog, a short wine review of a single value priced wine available at retail here in Ecuador. I hope our readers will find this information useful and helpful. I'll try to keep the wine postings here brief and to the point. Fuller, more in depth stories on my Ecuadorian wine experiences and wine in general will continue to appear on Roger's Grapevine.
O.K. Here goes with The Ecuadorian Wine guy's first value pick:
Vine de table de France is the lowest wine classification in France. However you wouldn't guess that just by the taste of B&G's non-vintage "Partager Vin de France". It is not a knock your socks off wine. It is a fairly well balanced and smooth red blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. It does benefit from a little airing out as the nose is a litte sharp straight out of the bottle. It has nice red and black fruit flavors, some tannins that are mostly soft and smooth and just a hint of a finish. This red blend shows just enough of the Syrah that to have a little Character that might be accented with some grilled meat dishes. It's price tag is right at $10 which is slightly higher than what this wine would typically sell for in the US but a very reasonable price for any French wine here in Ecuador. The bottle I sampled was found on the wine shelves at Coral Centro. If you enjoy a lighter, smoother red blend that hints of Pinot Noir with a little more structure, this might be worth a try.
Happy wine shopping and enjoy!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Moving to Ecuador....Do I Lawyer Up or Not?
We had made an offer on a new home in Cuenca that was accepted. We were awaiting the paperwork process for our closing and had arranged to visit again what we hoped would be our new home to take some room and window measurements. While going through the house with the seller, she turned and inquired: "Senor, why are you using a lawyer to help you buy this house? It must be costing you extra money"? That same week Immigration officials from Quito held a public meeting to review the various visa processes for expatriates in which they touted the new website tracking process for applications. They virtually told the audience that spending money to hire lawyers to help with visa applications was expensive and not necessary.
As part of our two month exploratory process in this city last summer, the Yazells researched the types of assistance available to hopeful expatriates, both from the professional legal community as well as other services offering assistance as simple advisors and assistants. We interviewed attorneys and before we returned to the U.S., we had formally retained a pair of lawyers to assist and advise us in both the visa application process and in procurring home ownership. We had even filed powers of attorney with them so they could legally act on our behalf in Ecuador, if necessary, before our planned return in January. Were we spending money excessively or unnecessarily? We didn't think so at the time and now that we have become home owners in Cuenca and have been approved for residency in Ecuador, we still don't think that hiring our attorneys was an unnecessary or unwarranted expense. To the contrary, we think that not having hired our attorneys and having saved the fees we paid them would have been, as the Brits say, been "penny-wise and pound-foolish". Our legal fees were to us money well spent.
As I responded to the Senora who had inquired as to why I had involved a lawyer. I am a newcomer to this land, not at all well conversant in the language, unfamiliar with common practice and customs, uneducated as to the rights of citizens and visitors, thoroughly unfamiliar with the intricacies of Ecuadorian law. Hiring a lawyer gave me a reference resource, a sounding board, and (presuming I hired wisely) a strong advocate for my interests and for my protection. I look upon the legal fees that we've spent in the much the same way as I would at insurance premiums. If there aren't any issues that require attention, it may not be obvious as to the benefit but when an issue arises is when the expenditure shows its value.
In our case, problems have been relatively few and were quickly addressed. Part of the reason was probably the time we spent with our attorneys. We were very forthright in what kind of help and assistance we needed and were also prepared with what could best be described as a humongous boatload of questions. (When we ran out of questions, we went home, put on a pot of coffee and reviewed all the answers we had until at least a dozen or more questions came to mind!). Our attorneys were equally as forthright in what we could expect them to do, what OUR roles and responsibilities were and they were as productive(not to mention patient) in providing answers, instructions and suggestions as we were in proving inquiries. In short, we were fortunate in creating a partnership with our attorneys.
Each of you has to make the decision for yourselves, but based on our experience and some of what we have seen and heard, we think hiring a competent bilingual law firm to assist in the process is a sound insvestment in your transition to becoming an expatriate. Having said that, keep these things in mind:
1. You are responsible for doing YOUR due diligence and making good decisions. Paying for a lawyer does NOT absolve you of this responsibility.
2. If you fail to execute or make a stupid decision, no amount of legal fees will be able to quickly resolve the problems that will result. Nor will you be able to point your finger at the lawyer for those problems.
3. As in most business relationships, the key is for you and your lawyer to thoroughly discuss upfront what the goals and objectives are, to formulate a plan to reach them and to decide on a proper division of tasks and responsibilities to reach them. Your lawyer is a strategic advisor and counselor in this process and you're the decision maker, but you both must be in agreement in order for the plan to be successfully executed.
4. As in all tasks associated with your move, do, do, do your homework and when you think you've done enough, do some more. Ask, ask, ask all the questions you can can and then ask some more.
In our case, I think the process of working together well with our attorneys (as well as some good old fashioned luck) contributed greatly to our being able to close on the house we wanted within ten days of first offer, despite having to work through a utility enchroachment issue. It was also evident in getting final approval for our residency visas in just under eight weeks from first filing (holiday period included).
Time and effort are equivalent to spending money. You'll save those if you carefully choose your legal representative and work well with them. Our experience may not be yours, but we will always say "YES" to those who ask "Should I lawyer up or not if I plan to move to Ecuador?"
If asked for a reccomendation, we will proudly disclose that our legal representatives were the professional, Cuenca-based husband and wife team of Nelson Idrovo and Grace Velastegui. They and their two assistants, Rebecca and Priscilla were, and continue to be valued and trusted resources as we make Ecuador our home base and as we continue "juntos en el camino de la vida".
As part of our two month exploratory process in this city last summer, the Yazells researched the types of assistance available to hopeful expatriates, both from the professional legal community as well as other services offering assistance as simple advisors and assistants. We interviewed attorneys and before we returned to the U.S., we had formally retained a pair of lawyers to assist and advise us in both the visa application process and in procurring home ownership. We had even filed powers of attorney with them so they could legally act on our behalf in Ecuador, if necessary, before our planned return in January. Were we spending money excessively or unnecessarily? We didn't think so at the time and now that we have become home owners in Cuenca and have been approved for residency in Ecuador, we still don't think that hiring our attorneys was an unnecessary or unwarranted expense. To the contrary, we think that not having hired our attorneys and having saved the fees we paid them would have been, as the Brits say, been "penny-wise and pound-foolish". Our legal fees were to us money well spent.
As I responded to the Senora who had inquired as to why I had involved a lawyer. I am a newcomer to this land, not at all well conversant in the language, unfamiliar with common practice and customs, uneducated as to the rights of citizens and visitors, thoroughly unfamiliar with the intricacies of Ecuadorian law. Hiring a lawyer gave me a reference resource, a sounding board, and (presuming I hired wisely) a strong advocate for my interests and for my protection. I look upon the legal fees that we've spent in the much the same way as I would at insurance premiums. If there aren't any issues that require attention, it may not be obvious as to the benefit but when an issue arises is when the expenditure shows its value.
In our case, problems have been relatively few and were quickly addressed. Part of the reason was probably the time we spent with our attorneys. We were very forthright in what kind of help and assistance we needed and were also prepared with what could best be described as a humongous boatload of questions. (When we ran out of questions, we went home, put on a pot of coffee and reviewed all the answers we had until at least a dozen or more questions came to mind!). Our attorneys were equally as forthright in what we could expect them to do, what OUR roles and responsibilities were and they were as productive(not to mention patient) in providing answers, instructions and suggestions as we were in proving inquiries. In short, we were fortunate in creating a partnership with our attorneys.
Each of you has to make the decision for yourselves, but based on our experience and some of what we have seen and heard, we think hiring a competent bilingual law firm to assist in the process is a sound insvestment in your transition to becoming an expatriate. Having said that, keep these things in mind:
1. You are responsible for doing YOUR due diligence and making good decisions. Paying for a lawyer does NOT absolve you of this responsibility.
2. If you fail to execute or make a stupid decision, no amount of legal fees will be able to quickly resolve the problems that will result. Nor will you be able to point your finger at the lawyer for those problems.
3. As in most business relationships, the key is for you and your lawyer to thoroughly discuss upfront what the goals and objectives are, to formulate a plan to reach them and to decide on a proper division of tasks and responsibilities to reach them. Your lawyer is a strategic advisor and counselor in this process and you're the decision maker, but you both must be in agreement in order for the plan to be successfully executed.
4. As in all tasks associated with your move, do, do, do your homework and when you think you've done enough, do some more. Ask, ask, ask all the questions you can can and then ask some more.
In our case, I think the process of working together well with our attorneys (as well as some good old fashioned luck) contributed greatly to our being able to close on the house we wanted within ten days of first offer, despite having to work through a utility enchroachment issue. It was also evident in getting final approval for our residency visas in just under eight weeks from first filing (holiday period included).
Time and effort are equivalent to spending money. You'll save those if you carefully choose your legal representative and work well with them. Our experience may not be yours, but we will always say "YES" to those who ask "Should I lawyer up or not if I plan to move to Ecuador?"
If asked for a reccomendation, we will proudly disclose that our legal representatives were the professional, Cuenca-based husband and wife team of Nelson Idrovo and Grace Velastegui. They and their two assistants, Rebecca and Priscilla were, and continue to be valued and trusted resources as we make Ecuador our home base and as we continue "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Buying a Home in Cuenca
The Yazell's search for a home in Cuenca actually began last summer during our two month "trial run". We looked at a number of condos and houses and made the decision back then that purchasing a house was our preferred route to follow. For us, the desire to have living space "outdoors" outweighted some of the security advantages of a condominium. Deciding the type of home you want to find in Cuenca is probably as important as setting a price range, so we really suggest that anyone seeking to move here do some homework and really hone in on the type of property that makes sense for them. Rental vs purchase is probably the first initial choice. House or condo will probably require a lot of research. Most houses will require some extensive remodeling (by the way, this is probably true of rental as well as purchased property). Location is another big factor. Initially we set a 2 km radius of Parque Calderon but later modified that area. As we explored a lot of neighborhoods and also became familiar with bus routes that allowed us to go beyond own "walking distance" and also helped defined areas we felt were the kind of neighborhoods we would enjoy. There is nothing that beats walking a neighborhood and talking to the people that reside there for deciding if you would enjoy living in that area.
By the time we returned to the US in August, we had a good idea of what we were looking for. We had also decided upon an attorney that would assist us in the closing process. Further, we had met and decided upon an architect we would use for any remodeling needs. In fact, we had estimates for remodeling one house that we decided to make an offer on after we returned to the US. We ended up not getting that house as another buyer out bid us on the price.
After losing out on that house, we decided that we would, as they say, "hit the ground running" upon our return in January. We had made arrangements to recruit the help of an Ecuadorian friend we had met over our summer visit. We emailed all the new friends we had met in Cuenca shortly before our return and nearly every one responded with ideas, references to realtors they had worked with or they sent notes on houses they had seen personally, online or in the paper. We really felt prepared.
There were a few hiccups. Our Ecuadorian friend was in Panama upon our return helping his son relocate. One of the realtors we had contacted was a no-show for our appointment, another emailed and called but took ten days to even set a time to get together and then spent more time trying to get us let her handle our resident visa application than showing us property. To cap things off, Suzanne and I both came down with a case of the Cuenca bubonic "gunkies" which sidelined us for almost a week
You have to realize that house hunting is a very "hands-on" and involved process here. There is no MLS service to make searching easy. Most home owners will attempt to sell property themselves. While there are dozens of real estate agencies in Cuenca, if you are not bilingual, you probably won't find most of them or even their websites. The most easily found real estate websites in English are well executed with good listing information. Quite frankly, while their listings are well presented and informative, they tend to represent the highest priced listings in the market. Also their services can almost be described as mercenary, often charging commission fees simultaneously to buyer and seller and even charging by the hour to show property to prospective buyers. They are obviously fulfilling a need and obviously very successful at what they do. However, the expatriate who utilizes these services will likely pay wel above the market average for property he secures through them. If you are unprepared to do your own market research, homework, legwork and due deligence, these services may end ubeing your only viable and best option.
We were fortunate enough to have learned some of the basics, developed a little understanding of the marketplace and to have formulated a good sense of what would meet our needs. We were also blessed to have been referred to an excellent, hard-working, bilingual, Ecuadorian real estate agent: Monica Rodas Albornoz with Consorcio Cuencea Bienes Raices. Their office is located on Doce de Abril near the intersection of Av. Unidad Nacional. (online at www.cuencabienes raices.com). Within a couple of days Monica had really honed in on the kind of property we wanted (she had even taken the address of some houses we had seen on walks and investigated them for us). We very quickly ended up with two viable candidates. One was a house that required some repair and remodeling so we arranged to have architect Marcelo Sempertegui prepare some plans and a quote. The other house was virtually new, having been completed only the previous Semptember. It had never been occupied due to relocation of the owner. It was a true find and was virtually move-in ready even down to meeting our "gringo" standards for multiple outlets in every room and multiple prewired locations for TV, internet and phone. We decided to go for this house and our offer was accepted within hours.
We had some concern about a utility pole anchor that was implanted smack dab in the middle of our front courtyard so we added a contingency clause to the sales contract. (This is something very rarely done in Ecuador). We were concerned this might cause a long delay but we actually resolved the utility company encroachment, cleared the title, closed the sale and took possesion of the property within ten calendar days.
Suzanne and I are now the proud owners of a 218 sq meter beauty in the western part of Cuenca. We've already met two of our new neighbors and are looking forward in the next couple of weeks to getting enough basics installed so we can move in ahead of our container arrival.
After being vagabonds here, in Thailand, and in the U.S. for the past eight months, we are now looking forward to our new home and base as we continue "juntos en el camino de la vida".
By the time we returned to the US in August, we had a good idea of what we were looking for. We had also decided upon an attorney that would assist us in the closing process. Further, we had met and decided upon an architect we would use for any remodeling needs. In fact, we had estimates for remodeling one house that we decided to make an offer on after we returned to the US. We ended up not getting that house as another buyer out bid us on the price.
After losing out on that house, we decided that we would, as they say, "hit the ground running" upon our return in January. We had made arrangements to recruit the help of an Ecuadorian friend we had met over our summer visit. We emailed all the new friends we had met in Cuenca shortly before our return and nearly every one responded with ideas, references to realtors they had worked with or they sent notes on houses they had seen personally, online or in the paper. We really felt prepared.
There were a few hiccups. Our Ecuadorian friend was in Panama upon our return helping his son relocate. One of the realtors we had contacted was a no-show for our appointment, another emailed and called but took ten days to even set a time to get together and then spent more time trying to get us let her handle our resident visa application than showing us property. To cap things off, Suzanne and I both came down with a case of the Cuenca bubonic "gunkies" which sidelined us for almost a week
You have to realize that house hunting is a very "hands-on" and involved process here. There is no MLS service to make searching easy. Most home owners will attempt to sell property themselves. While there are dozens of real estate agencies in Cuenca, if you are not bilingual, you probably won't find most of them or even their websites. The most easily found real estate websites in English are well executed with good listing information. Quite frankly, while their listings are well presented and informative, they tend to represent the highest priced listings in the market. Also their services can almost be described as mercenary, often charging commission fees simultaneously to buyer and seller and even charging by the hour to show property to prospective buyers. They are obviously fulfilling a need and obviously very successful at what they do. However, the expatriate who utilizes these services will likely pay wel above the market average for property he secures through them. If you are unprepared to do your own market research, homework, legwork and due deligence, these services may end ubeing your only viable and best option.
We were fortunate enough to have learned some of the basics, developed a little understanding of the marketplace and to have formulated a good sense of what would meet our needs. We were also blessed to have been referred to an excellent, hard-working, bilingual, Ecuadorian real estate agent: Monica Rodas Albornoz with Consorcio Cuencea Bienes Raices. Their office is located on Doce de Abril near the intersection of Av. Unidad Nacional. (online at www.cuencabienes raices.com). Within a couple of days Monica had really honed in on the kind of property we wanted (she had even taken the address of some houses we had seen on walks and investigated them for us). We very quickly ended up with two viable candidates. One was a house that required some repair and remodeling so we arranged to have architect Marcelo Sempertegui prepare some plans and a quote. The other house was virtually new, having been completed only the previous Semptember. It had never been occupied due to relocation of the owner. It was a true find and was virtually move-in ready even down to meeting our "gringo" standards for multiple outlets in every room and multiple prewired locations for TV, internet and phone. We decided to go for this house and our offer was accepted within hours.
We had some concern about a utility pole anchor that was implanted smack dab in the middle of our front courtyard so we added a contingency clause to the sales contract. (This is something very rarely done in Ecuador). We were concerned this might cause a long delay but we actually resolved the utility company encroachment, cleared the title, closed the sale and took possesion of the property within ten calendar days.
Suzanne and I are now the proud owners of a 218 sq meter beauty in the western part of Cuenca. We've already met two of our new neighbors and are looking forward in the next couple of weeks to getting enough basics installed so we can move in ahead of our container arrival.
After being vagabonds here, in Thailand, and in the U.S. for the past eight months, we are now looking forward to our new home and base as we continue "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Monday, January 30, 2012
Settling in at Home in Cuenca!
The past two evenings, the night view from our eighth floor rental apartment has included some spectacular fireworks. Not sure of the reason but they reflect more "pinch me, I'm not dreaming, I really am retired and living here in Ecuador" moments. Roger will be taking a cooking class tomorrow, there's a free Mozart concert on Wednesday and a bottle of wine is sure to figure in the week's itinerary somewhere. We are thankful and blessed to be fulfilling our dream!
We are also estatic that we were able to execute a sale agreement on a house. If everything falls into place as expected, we will be into our new home in Ecuador no later than mid March. In the midst of all this, our 12-IX visa was registered in Quito and our application for permanent residency has been accepted and assigned a case number.
The Yazells seem to have landed...maybe that's the reason for all the fireworks here! In any case, we are joyous that we will soon have a new home base to continue our adventures "juntos en el camino de la vida".
We are also estatic that we were able to execute a sale agreement on a house. If everything falls into place as expected, we will be into our new home in Ecuador no later than mid March. In the midst of all this, our 12-IX visa was registered in Quito and our application for permanent residency has been accepted and assigned a case number.
The Yazells seem to have landed...maybe that's the reason for all the fireworks here! In any case, we are joyous that we will soon have a new home base to continue our adventures "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Friday, January 20, 2012
Fresh fruit and produce from the Coopera!
Pepino Dulce is a slightly less than grapefruit sized beige fruit with purple stripes on it. It's in the cucumber family but has a pear like pulp in a large apple shape. It was one of four fresh fruits in my breakfast fruit salad this morning (apple, pepino dulce, papaya and oritos). Orito is one of the many types of banana found here in Ecuador (this country is the world's largest exporter of bananas). It is about half the size of the banana commonly found in the U.S.A. It has a thinner akin but a richer, denser and creamier tasting fruit inside.
All of the items in my morning fruit salad were purchased at the coopera, our favorite place to shop for fresh fruit and vegetables. There may be some savings and even more variety found at the nearby Feria Libre, (Cuenca's largest mercado, but you often have to buy in larger bulk quantities. That isn't as easy for a two person household to consume especially when we typically eat out often. The almost as affordable coopera is a farmer's coop founded in nearby San Joaquin and all its offerings are otganically grown. The prices are extremely reasonble and will be even more so when we get our membership discount.
Here's a breakdown of our most recent shopping trip at the coopera:
2 large limes .13
1 pepino dulce .62
3 lg boneless, skinless chicken breasts 3.73
1 doz oritos .22
2 large avocadoes .77
1 head iceburg lettuce .46
3 large carrots .27
4 small white potatoes .23
1 large ginger root .35
1 large cucumber .37
1 large red onion .19
3 large red apples 1.02
4 large red tomatoes .72
1 jar fresh organic clover honey 3.01
1 large Hawaiian papaya 1.04
Total: 13.13
Note that the most expensive produce items (the Mac apples and the papaya) were imported. For those that are curious, the chicken breasts worked out to about $2.00 a pound.
Fresh fruit and veggies are a mainstay for us here in Ecuador and we love both the quality and the freshness we get shopping at the coopera. One of the first things we noticed when we were back in the states for a few months was a sharp drop in the quality and flavor of the fresh produce even when obtained it from what had been our favorite store for produce.
If you enjoy preparing your own meals, the opportunity to affordably enjoy the best in fresh produce will become one of your incentives for choosing Ecuador as a home. It has been for us and we look forward to many meals highlighting quality fruit and vegetables as we continue: "juntos en el camino de la vida".
All of the items in my morning fruit salad were purchased at the coopera, our favorite place to shop for fresh fruit and vegetables. There may be some savings and even more variety found at the nearby Feria Libre, (Cuenca's largest mercado, but you often have to buy in larger bulk quantities. That isn't as easy for a two person household to consume especially when we typically eat out often. The almost as affordable coopera is a farmer's coop founded in nearby San Joaquin and all its offerings are otganically grown. The prices are extremely reasonble and will be even more so when we get our membership discount.
Here's a breakdown of our most recent shopping trip at the coopera:
2 large limes .13
1 pepino dulce .62
3 lg boneless, skinless chicken breasts 3.73
1 doz oritos .22
2 large avocadoes .77
1 head iceburg lettuce .46
3 large carrots .27
4 small white potatoes .23
1 large ginger root .35
1 large cucumber .37
1 large red onion .19
3 large red apples 1.02
4 large red tomatoes .72
1 jar fresh organic clover honey 3.01
1 large Hawaiian papaya 1.04
Total: 13.13
Note that the most expensive produce items (the Mac apples and the papaya) were imported. For those that are curious, the chicken breasts worked out to about $2.00 a pound.
Fresh fruit and veggies are a mainstay for us here in Ecuador and we love both the quality and the freshness we get shopping at the coopera. One of the first things we noticed when we were back in the states for a few months was a sharp drop in the quality and flavor of the fresh produce even when obtained it from what had been our favorite store for produce.
If you enjoy preparing your own meals, the opportunity to affordably enjoy the best in fresh produce will become one of your incentives for choosing Ecuador as a home. It has been for us and we look forward to many meals highlighting quality fruit and vegetables as we continue: "juntos en el camino de la vida".
Monday, January 16, 2012
We're Back !
We made it! There were times over the past seven-plus months when it looked like living out of suitcases and in other people's homes or rental rooms was going to go on forever. However the big day finally arrived...we hit the tarmack in Guayaquil at 5:25 am on Saturday. By 6:10, we were loaded up and on the road to Cuenca.
(note to self...remember to blog later about the drive over the Cajas)
By 10:00am, we were in our LaQuadra rental, our home while we house hunt. By Noon we were wiped out and settled in for a nap! Back up at four to shop (local friends had already tipped Suzanne to the one time only sale at Sukasa and we also needed some things from nearby Supermaxi). We ate out, shopped and returned to the apartment in time to watch a movie and crash at the late hour of 8:15pm.
We were tired but it was good to back home. Besides, we needed a good night's sleep. A walk to the parque and a trip to the flower market was on tap for our first full day home.
As friend Clarke Green oft reminds us: Life is sweet!
(note to self...remember to blog later about the drive over the Cajas)
By 10:00am, we were in our LaQuadra rental, our home while we house hunt. By Noon we were wiped out and settled in for a nap! Back up at four to shop (local friends had already tipped Suzanne to the one time only sale at Sukasa and we also needed some things from nearby Supermaxi). We ate out, shopped and returned to the apartment in time to watch a movie and crash at the late hour of 8:15pm.
We were tired but it was good to back home. Besides, we needed a good night's sleep. A walk to the parque and a trip to the flower market was on tap for our first full day home.
As friend Clarke Green oft reminds us: Life is sweet!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Bye, Bye Chico's!
Back in the 90's when we lived in Pembroke Pines, Florida, I took Suzanne for a beach getaway to Sanibel/Captiva Islands on the gulf coast. It was there she discovered Chico's. Back then they didn't refer to it as "The Original Chico's", the way they do today. You see back then, it was still a small emerging retailer. In fact there were only two or three stores.
It was a love affair at first sight and as their relationship grew, oh my,oh my, how Chico's grew! I remember the opening of multiple stores in Arizona after we relocated there in 1999.
I remarked to co-workers when Chico's went public that I should buy some stock as a hedge against our purchases there. (I should have! The stock price soared to more than twice its initial cost in the first year!)
Suzanne wasn't just fond of a particular Chico's....she shopped them all and she could tell you all the subtle differences. She knew when and what type of new merchandise would arrive and when it was likely to go on sale at a particular store. She shopped frequently enough that at least two stores in the Phoenix market even knew ME on a first name basis and I was always offered water, tea or coffee when we came in together.
I don't know if Suzanne was the true customer inspiration for Chico's preferred customer "passport" program but she certainly was the poster child for its success. Hardly a half week went by without a special email from them. The general jist was " Suzanne, we love you and miss you, please come shop with us again." They were usually followed by a personal phone call from at least two different stores announcing a special discount or preferred customers hours. One store manager even promised cookies and refreshment for your husband. It all worked and Suzanne loved the style and quality of the items she bought. Suzanne's wardrobe is overwhelmingly dominated by items from Chico's.
When it came to our final holiday gathering, she received three Chico's gift cards. Hubby wasn't among those...I had already scored on a vested jacket that was 50% off plus I got an additional 15% special early passport shopper's discount by using her passport id number. The amount of that gift puchase also earned credits toward a discount on her next purchase. (Suzanne trained me well!)
With gift cards in hand and our anniversary coming just behind the holiday, it didn't take long to cash in those gift cards. Our anniversary getaway was a long weekend to Sanibel Island where we enjoyed the sun, the sand, shelling on the beach and, of course, shopping at Chico's. (Interesting how life can bring you full circle, isn't it?). This time, the sign did read "The Original Chico's".
Suzanne thoroughly enjoyed her shopping and used her gift certificates wisely. I scored super mega hubby brownie points for planning a great anniversary trip. And two old best friends got to say goodbye to each other before one headed off to Ecuador.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if someday down the road, our cell phone rings as we're sitting in Parque Calderon and a voice on the other end sweetly whispers: "Suzanne, we love you and miss you. Come shop with us again."
The Yazell's are moving to Ecuador. If you own Chico's stock, prepare for a drop in the share price. You have the option to sell or you may just want to hang on until they announce the company is expanding to South America. My bet is that their first Latin American store will be in Cuenca. I just hope they remember to bring my cookies!
It was a love affair at first sight and as their relationship grew, oh my,oh my, how Chico's grew! I remember the opening of multiple stores in Arizona after we relocated there in 1999.
I remarked to co-workers when Chico's went public that I should buy some stock as a hedge against our purchases there. (I should have! The stock price soared to more than twice its initial cost in the first year!)
Suzanne wasn't just fond of a particular Chico's....she shopped them all and she could tell you all the subtle differences. She knew when and what type of new merchandise would arrive and when it was likely to go on sale at a particular store. She shopped frequently enough that at least two stores in the Phoenix market even knew ME on a first name basis and I was always offered water, tea or coffee when we came in together.
I don't know if Suzanne was the true customer inspiration for Chico's preferred customer "passport" program but she certainly was the poster child for its success. Hardly a half week went by without a special email from them. The general jist was " Suzanne, we love you and miss you, please come shop with us again." They were usually followed by a personal phone call from at least two different stores announcing a special discount or preferred customers hours. One store manager even promised cookies and refreshment for your husband. It all worked and Suzanne loved the style and quality of the items she bought. Suzanne's wardrobe is overwhelmingly dominated by items from Chico's.
When it came to our final holiday gathering, she received three Chico's gift cards. Hubby wasn't among those...I had already scored on a vested jacket that was 50% off plus I got an additional 15% special early passport shopper's discount by using her passport id number. The amount of that gift puchase also earned credits toward a discount on her next purchase. (Suzanne trained me well!)
With gift cards in hand and our anniversary coming just behind the holiday, it didn't take long to cash in those gift cards. Our anniversary getaway was a long weekend to Sanibel Island where we enjoyed the sun, the sand, shelling on the beach and, of course, shopping at Chico's. (Interesting how life can bring you full circle, isn't it?). This time, the sign did read "The Original Chico's".
Suzanne thoroughly enjoyed her shopping and used her gift certificates wisely. I scored super mega hubby brownie points for planning a great anniversary trip. And two old best friends got to say goodbye to each other before one headed off to Ecuador.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if someday down the road, our cell phone rings as we're sitting in Parque Calderon and a voice on the other end sweetly whispers: "Suzanne, we love you and miss you. Come shop with us again."
The Yazell's are moving to Ecuador. If you own Chico's stock, prepare for a drop in the share price. You have the option to sell or you may just want to hang on until they announce the company is expanding to South America. My bet is that their first Latin American store will be in Cuenca. I just hope they remember to bring my cookies!
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